Big Sis | One Moms World Mom Blog

Sharing a proud mom moment!

March 18, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 2 Comments

I feel like every waking hour is a proud mom moment. Most people probably would say that I boast way too much about my girls, but I love sharing about these two precious gems. Growing up, I always wanted to be a mom and there are times that I need to pinch myself. Have I really been a mom for over ten years? M is growing up entirely too fast. She is such a young lady and the conversations that we have just blow my mind. I still sneak in lots of hugs and kisses though. AND, she still loves that I walk her to her classroom. I know my time is drawing short on that one.

Last week, the girls’ school held their Spring Showcase. Since I am the PTO President of their school, I helped put together the event and unfortunately could not watch the awesome talent. I did take a break for 5 minutes though and sneak in to see my sweet M. The smile was reaching across my face so big. She is amazing and let it be known that if I attempted to move my feet as fast as she does, my face would be planted on the floor. Check out her clogging performance.

It’s fine to brag right?

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family

Trying to transition from extended co-sleeping

January 31, 2013 by Jennifer Spink Leave a Comment

The minute I became a mom, I was a full-fledged attachment mom. At the time, I did not realize my parenting style had a name. It did not become clearer until I was doing research online when my first-born M was an infant.

Family members and friends have sent subtle messages about my co-sleeping parenting style, but I always chose to ignore them. You and your husband define your parenting style. I never try to push my parenting style on to others, and I always appreciate the same in return.

With all of that being said, I know it is time to transition from extended co-sleeping. My girls are 8 and 10. M sleeps in her own bed with no problems. She does love to have L with her and we are trying to transition L. Every single time, I am ready to do the transition, L gets sick. Is the universe trying to tell me something? For the last week, cough and asthma issues have bothered L. As all asthma parents can tell you, it is so hard to see your child launch into a coughing fit and not be able to breathe. For a few months, I thought we may be growing out of asthma issues and only dealing with her allergy issues but I guess I can eat my words now. M pleaded with L to sleep with her last night and L quickly replied back

No, because mommy is my pal. I need to sleep with her.

She learned at an early age how to charm her way to my heart. As she drifted off to sleep last night, I was up on the laptop working. She kept on rattling when she was breathing. My mind starts to worry and I just sit there listening at her breathe. After a little bit, she seemed to do better so I wrapped my arms closely around her and drifted of to sleep. I felt like I was waking up every hour on hour checking on her. At one time, I didn’t hear her making a noise breathing. It was very quiet. I put my finger under her nose and put my hand on her back to ensure she was still breathing. I still wasn’t satisfied so I lifted her arm to see if she would move. She did and was none to happy with me. At 3am in the morning, the decision was made that it was just not the right time to transition from co-sleeping. We will wait till this asthma setback passes.

I really want to transition her so Hubby and I can have the bed by ourselves but this mother’s heart is just not ready. They are only little once right?

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Life of a Mom, Little Sis Tagged With: co-sleeping

In the blink of an eye

August 1, 2012 by Jennifer Spink 2 Comments

This week has been a full week for my precious M. Her feet have been moving at rapid speeds and are going many different directions. It’s that time of year for clogging camp. M takes her clogging very serious. This marks her fifth year performing as a clogger. The joy on her face can be seen for miles.

As I was dropping her off for clogging camp this week, something happened. We pulled into the parking lot. M confidently put her backpack on her back, opened the door and said bye mom. I love you. Wait just a minute! She did not want me to walk her in to camp? In the blink of an eye, I saw this very mature young lady looking at me. M had grown up overnight.

She no longer needed me to walk by her side.

She no longer needed my good bye hugs.

She no longer needed my protection.

In the blink of an eye, my oldest daughter went from a very dependent little girl to this confident independent young lady. I can only hope my parenting over the last few years have shaped her into this wonderful young person. From the minute your child is born, you are their provider and do everything for them. Gradually over time, the responsibilities lessen. On one end of the spectrum, I want to smile and be happy. On the other end of the spectrum, I want to cry and hold my daughters forever.

M is this child who is so responsible and will help anyone. Her hand is always there first and ready to help at any given time. The other night at dinner, she had us all take our seat at the table. We were not allowed to get our plates, cups or utensils. She came by with her apron on and wrote down everyone’s order. One by one, we were served with such grace and great hospitality. My child is serving me when I always served her. In the blink of an eye, M has grown up.
Time please slow down.

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family

Can snow show a child’s personality?

March 7, 2012 by Jennifer Spink 3 Comments

Children have different types of personalities. This plays so true with my two daughters’ personalities. During our snow day earlier this week, I sat back and analyzed their behaviors in the snow. We are a very analytical family after all.

M was in the snow forming three huge snow balls to build a snowman. She did not just stop at building the snowman. The snowman had to be accessorized. I present you M’s snow musician.

While M was entertaining us with the snow music, L was over by herself under a tree forming her own snow creature.

As we all know, L is a huge animal lover. She is going to be such a great animal advocate when she grows up. So, it was to no surprise that L was creating a bird with the snow. She came running down the hill to show me her snow bird. Too cute.

To answer my initial question, snow can show a child’s personality. M has a love for the arts including visual and musical. This showed when she was accessorizing her snowman. M is very outgoing and loves to be around people. L on the other hand is very reserved and more quiet than M. L sat under her tree very quiet while forming her snow bird.

Pretty cool right?

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Little Sis

A tonsil surgery is suppose to be simple right?

January 17, 2012 by Jennifer Spink 12 Comments

The last three weeks have been such a roller coaster. We found out on my precious M’s birthday that her allergies were unfortunately causing several problems. The first correction to be made was to have surgery. Many children have these surgeries each and every single day. No harm done, and I just figured that it would be the same for us. That is what I get for thinking right?

M was scheduled for surgery two days after Christmas. We would write notes back and forth to each other trying to squish all her fears. I kept reassuring her that everything would be okay and she would be a new girl for the new year. What I meant was, she would be able to breathe better and in return get a good night’s sleep. Even though her nerves crept up on her the morning of surgery, I was proud of her for putting on such a brave face. They wheeled my sweet girl back to the operating room and I waited in recovery room. I worked to try and keep my worries at bay. She had her tonsils removed, adenoids removed, tubes put in her ears and allergy testing all done during surgery. After about one hour and half, a nurse greeted me with good and bad news. Good news, her surgeries were a success. She did not even bleed any during surgery. The bad news, she tested positive for 23 different allergies. I can deal with this as L has several different allergies. I was just ready for the nurse to quit talking and direct me to my sweet M.

After, hugging my sweet girl very tightly, I let her finish waking up and get adjusted. We were able to leave three hours later. I assumed this would be the finale and my little girl would be on her way to being healthy again. For 14 days, she followed the strict schedule perfectly. She did not have any problems and did not complain at all. Day 15 this all changed unfortunately. She woke me up around 4am and she was bleeding out of her mouth. It was not a bad bleed so we got it stopped with salt water and headed on over to the ER. They did more salt water and sent us back home to follow-up with ENT. We followed up and everything seemed to be alright. The very next day, I get a call from school that M is bleeding yet again. Tears filled my eyes and I hurriedly made my way to the school. M leaped into my arms with such big tears. We both were crying. This was taking a toll on her and she was scared. We went straight to see her surgeon. Once again, we were reassured that everything was going fine and she was 98% healed. He said, I am pretty sure she will not bleed again but if she does, please call me immediately. I tried to stay calm and reassure M that she was doing a great job.

Fast forward two days, this becomes a nightmare. M woke me up at 12:45am and blood was going everywhere. My precious girl how can this be happening? I jumped up fast and went straight to the fridge to make a huge cup of cold ice salt water. The bleeding was still going and fast. I began to panic. Please Lord, let us get this bleeding to stop. This was by far the worst bleed yet. It took five cups of cold salt water to get the bleeding to stop. The bleeding was just shooting out from the back of her throat. We hurry and get into our vehicle and make our way to the ER. It is pouring the snow and we slide. Lord, please just get us to the ER. We made it and I am trying to comfort M as I am driving.

As we get into the ER, the doctor is very concerned and calls M’s surgeon immediately. They want her admitted right away. The surgeon comes over and I can tell by the looks on his face, he was worried. He said, I just really thought this would not happen again. I hope you have not lost faith in me. Absolutely, not. He was our saving grace and he comforted us both. He grabbed M in his lap and immediately said a prayer over her. We were headed to an emergency surgery. It was M’s artery in the back of her throat.

M was so scared. I was scared. All I wanted was my baby girl to just be okay and get over this bump. They put in the IV while she was awake which they did not do last time. The pain across her face just broke my heart. I knew it had to be done though. As she was being prep for surgery, our family and church friends were arriving at the hospital. We were being surrounded with prayers and love. I felt calmness come over me and knew M was going to be just fine. After about another hour and half, the surgeon greets us. She did wonderful in surgery. He pulled her palate very tight and double stitched over the artery. He also, recauterized her blood vessel in her throat.

She had to stay in hospital for two days but was such a trooper. The surgeon said in his 22 years of practice, this had never happened. Leave it to my M to defy the odds. The first day I was worried as she just slept and slept and slept. She refused to eat, but who could blame her? This had taken a mental and physical toll on her. Just today, I finally got her to eat her first bites. Praise God!

I feel like we have made it past second base and running towards home plate. We are almost there hopefully. She cannot do any activities for 3 weeks and you better believe I am watching every move she does. I keep reliving the scenario and it just breaks me down. I could not sleep last night well because of all the nightmares from this. I know without a doubt that my faith and prayers from everyone has got us all through this. I never want to experience this again. She did lose a lot of blood and has to build back up her red blood cells and hemoglobin. The surgeon ordered her to eat lots of red meat. I absolutely cannot stand red meat, but will do anything for my sweet girl.

I am proud of you M. You are one strong little girl!

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family Tagged With: tonsil surgery

First snow of the year brings out lots of smiles

January 3, 2012 by Jennifer Spink Leave a Comment

We have been waiting on a big snow and it is still yet to come, so we will welcome any amount of snow we can get. We were greeted this morning as we awoke with a beautiful winter wonderland. Was it a huge amount of snow? Actually, it was not. Maybe 2 inches? The amount did not seem to matter in the sparkle of M and L’s eyes. Just watching the pure joy escape them as they put on their ever abundance of snow clothes, brought me back to my childhood. There would be no worries in the world, only fun times going down the sledding hill with my brother. Now my two girls are getting to experience the same excitement.

Hearing the laughter, seeing the smiles was pure winter delight. I escaped five minutes before they came in to create a delicious warm drink for a winter snow day. I greeted them at the door with two cups of hot chocolate and we sat and discussed their sledding stories. Now, this is the winter life!

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Family Fun NC, Little Sis

The best nine years of my life

December 28, 2011 by Jennifer Spink 1 Comment

The last nine years have been the most amazing years filled with so much wonderful joy. I always dreamed of becoming a mom when I was a young child. I would line up my baby dolls in my room and play house for hours on in. My mom can contest to this as she would walk in on my frequently and just smile.

Nine years ago, I became a mom to a beautiful brown-eyed M. My oh my has she grown over the past nine years.

From the first time I held you M, I was in love. I would sing and talk to you all throughout the time I carried you in my tummy, then I was just in awe when you were placed in my arms. There is a special bond between a mother and daughter, and I am so proud of that awesome bond. You are always there to bring a smile to my face, to help me in the kitchen or to help with me your little sister L. You do not like for anyone to be sad around you and will do your best to help cheer them up. Your teachers said at school this year, you are always the first one to raise your hand to help out another student. M, you have always had this caring spirit about you. You want to help everyone and will not be told no. I always say there is a special old soul about you because you are always putting others first before you.

M, we can sing songs together, play card games together, watch movies together and just have so much fun. You love for me to still hold your hand and hug you tightly. You love when I cuddle up to you and put your special blankie on you.

M, you have a love of art. You surprise me with the most special drawings just when I need them to brighten my day. You will perform a dance for me to show me your special talent of clogging. Clogging is one of your favorite things to do. Ever since you were 5 years old, you have been going strong. Each year, I can see your passion grow clogging. You teachers are always bragging on you and say how hard you work. M, see it isn’t just me that you touch with your sweet soul. You touch the lives of all the people around you. Your personality is such a heartwarming one and one that makes me so proud as a mother.

M, you have a love for your Jesus Christ as well. You love to pray for others and ask God for guidance in your life. I will catch you praying if someone is sick or if you are worried. It just brightens my soul that you believe in prayer so much. We were sitting down for lunch and you already bowed your head before I could even get any words out. You had already started praying. Keep up the wonderful testament and prayer will get you far in life.

M, you are such a great role model with your schooling. You are taking after your mommy in making straight A’s. If you come home with a paper that is less than an A, then you will have tears fill your eyes and apologize. Just like your mommy was when she was a little girl. I always hug you tightly and let you know, that it is okay. We are not perfect and only one person was in this world. You always want to do the best you can and will get frustrated if you cannot figure out a problem on the first try. I am proud of your wonderful school work and always so proud of the stories that you bring home. You are an amazing writer and reader. You are already reading on a 6th grade level. Keep up the great work my sweet girl.

All of these qualities is what makes the last nine years the best years of my life. I love you so much and so proud to call you my daughter. I know we will always have a special and close bond. All three of us including your sweet sister L.

Reach for the stars sweet girl, you will go far!

Happy 9th Birthday Precious M!

Love,
Mom

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family Tagged With: Big Sis, birthday letter, mother daughter bond

Birthday party fun with Abba Dance Party

December 19, 2011 by Jennifer Spink Leave a Comment

We had a fun weekend of partying for our precious M. I am not sure how she is already nine years old. I will admit, I shed a few tears this weekend. It is so bittersweet to see M growing into such a young lady. We did have so much fun celebrating her big day though with an Abba Dance Party.

Our living room floor was literally transformed right before our eyes to a dance floor. M invited her sweet friends and for 3 hours, all the friends had the best time dancing to the beat of 70′s music. Who said we couldn’t bring back the 70′s here at the end of 2011? I have proof that we did and it was a blast.

We had twists, we had turns as the girls danced to the beat of the music. I seen so many smiles and so much laughter.

The girls were having so much fun that it was hard to break them away from the game to scoop up some birthday, but we eventually did have chow time. After all, we had a birthday song to sing to a special M.

No dance party is complete without a kids punch served. The punch was a huge hit and was gone very fast.

The food hit the spot and it was time to hit the dance floor once again. All the girls were eager to get back on the dance floor and see what moves they could perform.

The older kids could not sit back any longer. It was time for them to step onto the dance floor and break down some great 70′s moves.

This Wii Game was so instrumental in bringing back a decade into today’s generation. The game is such good clean and friendly fun as you can see all ages were having fun breaking down on the dance floor. The creators of Just Dance put their expertise together and came up with ABBA You can Dance so as you can imagine, you will not be let down. The game is averaging 4.5 stars on Amazon.com. Go ahead and grab your copy today and prepare to dance, laugh and create so many fun memories.

This will be a birthday party that M will remember for a very long time!

Disclosure: Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Big Sis, Mom Reviews Tagged With: 9 Year Old Birthday Party, ABBA You Can Dance, Family Wii Game

A little Christmas dancing to start your Monday

December 4, 2011 by Jennifer Spink Leave a Comment

Christmas parades are such a fun and festive tradition each year. This year was an extra special parade year.

M usually rides the float with her clogging team but was able to clog in two parades this year due to being older. My memories take me back to her very first parade where I shed tears as she went by me and once again I shed tears this time.

I am so amazed and proud of my sweet M. She loves to clog and can keep up with the beat. Me? I would be tripping over my own two feet. I will leave you with a very short clip of some good ole fashioned Christmas parade clogging. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family Tagged With: Big Sis, Clogging

I want to do whatever I want

August 16, 2011 by Jennifer Spink 6 Comments

As a mom, you start the journey of motherhood with your kids depending on you for their every need. They wrap their tiny fingers around your fingers and all is well in their world. Being an attachment mother was what I loved and cherished so much during the early stages of motherhood. I miss deeply when the girls were babies as I would always have them close to my chest. I would wear (babywearing sling) them all day and we would be attached at the hip. Pure bliss!

The years are moving so fast though and we have fast forward from the attachment parenting stage to a more independent stage. We are doing our last co-sleeping days but I still see lots of family movie nights of us all cuddled in the bed together… I just wish I could pause time, because we are fast forwarding too fast. How did I wake up one morning and the girls went from depending on me for everything to spreading their wings and taking on the real world.

The girls are back to school for the new year. I am a ball of mixed emotions. This conversation sent my emotions even further all over the place.

L: Mommy, when will I be on my own?

Me: I am not sure. I am assuming when you are 21 and become an adult. But, you could just stay with mommy forever.

L: Mommy, when I am on my own will I have to get a job?

Me: Well honey, we do have to work in order to make a living.

L: Mommy, I want to do whatever I want when I get 21.

Me: Sweetie, that is a good attitude to have. I want you to reach for the stars and let God direct you into a great career.

M pipes in: Why are we talking about growing up for L? I don’t want to grow up, I just want to be a kid.

WOW! L has definitely grown in the last couple of years. She is still a BIG mommy’s girl and needs her mommy close, but she is always engaging in these big grown up conversations. M is not thinking so much about the future and just enjoying the moment. Looking back on the conversation though, I do get a big smile on my face. My girls are growing into independent women and it is all because of the parenting we have done over the last nine years. Who said attachment parenting was so bad? Looks like I have two amazing girls to prove that theory down the drain.

Spread your wings girls but always know mommy is right behind you flying with you. Here’s to a great school year.

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Featured, Little Sis

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